Wire-stretcher.



' J. M. SPARKS.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED Ann, 1911.

1,092,182. Patented Apr. 7, 1914.

WITNESSES ninTTnn sTATns PATENT @FFTQE WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 7, 1214.

Application filed April 4, 1911. Serial No. 618,886.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES M. SPARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nadine, in the county of Eddy and State of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in vVire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tools and more particularly to that class known as wire stretchers.

An object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher of simple construction and comprising very few parts, several of said parts being removable or foldable to facilitate the transportation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for easily and quickly stretching wire, and means on said device for reliably holding said wire stretched while the same is being secured to the fence post.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the specification.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application, Figure l is a plan view of my improved wire stretcher, showing the manner of applying the same to use. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view on a reduced scale of my stretcher showing the manner of securing the wire in stretched condition.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 24 indicates the handle having one end thereof square as at 23 and secured within the aperture 21 formed in the cross bar 1 by means of a set screw 22. The cross bar 1 is positioned at right angles to the handle 24 and has its ends curved slightly. One of the curved ends is bifurcated, and between said bifurcations is piv oted a fulcrum bar 3, by means of the pivot pin 4. The opposite end of the cross bar may be slotted adjacent its end and provided with a pin 16 to pivot the handle 14 carrying the jaw 17, with which cooperates the jaw 10 formed at the end of the cross bar.

In order that the end of the wire may be securely held while being stretched I form an opening 25 near the free end of the handle 24 and through this opening the wire may be secured. The free end of the handle is enlarged as at 27, and upon said on largement is formed a rib 28 with which cooperates a projection 29, to hold a barbed wire when placed therebetween. The extremity of the handle is slightly curved and bifurcated as at 26, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The operation of the device is as follows: The cross bar 1 and fulcrum bar 3 are positioned against a fence post B, to which it is desired to fasten the wire A. While the stretcher is in this position, the free end of the wire A is secured either through the opening 25 or between the rib 28 and projection 29 and the free end of the handle 24 grasped by the operator, and turned in the direction of the arrow, in Fig. 1, about the post 13, until the bifurcated end 26 of the handle is in position to receive the stretched wire shown as a dotted line C in Fig. 1. In order to secure the wire to the post, while it is in stretched condition, the stretched wire C is positioned between the bifurcations at the end of the handle 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thus holding the wire and the stretcher against movement and affording the operator the use of both hands while securing the wire in position upon the post.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a device of simple character which can be manufactured at a very small cost and which will be thoroughly reliable in operation. It will further be seen that I have provided means for retaining the device in adjusted position after the wire has been stretched and still further means for securing different kinds of wire.

What I claim is:

1. A wire stretching tool comprising a handle having one end thereof curved and bifurcated, wire securing means carried by said bifurcated end of the handle, the opposite end of said handle being squared, a cross bar removably secured to the squared end of said handle, and a fulcrum bar secured to the end of said cross bar and disposed at right angles to the latter and parallel to said handle.

2. A wire stretching tool comprising a handle having one end thereof curved and bifurcated, an enlargement adjacent said bifurcated end having a rib, a projection ad aCent said rib, the opposite end of said handle being squared, a cross bar removably In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this spec ficat on in the presence of two subscrlblng Witnesses.

secured to the squared end of said handle, 7 JAMES M. SPARKS. 5 and a fulcrum bar secured to the end of Witnesses: v

said cross bar and disposed at right angles J. GILLIA to the latter and parallel to said handle. '1. P. HARRISON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent.

Washington, D. C. 

